"Because every woman should be free to choose her destiny, we celebrate this anniversary," said Silver. "May the wisdom of those who came before us guide my colleagues and I as we continue to fight for legislation that expands and protects the rights of New York’s women."

"On this anniversary, we celebrate a legal judgment that has safeguarded reproductive freedom for generations of American women," said Jaffee. "Today and every day, we celebrate this freedom. This anniversary is also an occasion to pause in memory of those women for whom unsafe, illegal abortions were the only option. I commend my colleagues in the Assembly Majority for their tireless efforts to protect women’s health and safety."

During the era before legalization, abortion was the cause of untold physical and legal consequences for thousands of women.

In 1970, New York passed legislation that made the state among the first to legalize abortion. Recently, the Assembly paused in its deliberations to commemorate this decision and celebrate a history of championing women’s rights.

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